But what's the point in having them if you can't quickly hand one out to someone you meet? Or worse, if you're embarrassed to hand one out because it got rumpled in your purse or wallet?

That used to happen to me a lot at networking events. I would either forget my cards at home, or I would “forget” my cards at home even when I had some on me.

My first ever business cards came in a simple cardboard box that wasn't practical to carry around, or nice enough to leave out on my desk for others to see.

My second set were handed to me with an elastic around them. Ugh.

Those were from different employers, but things improved when I started getting my own cards.

The first batch came in a simple, transparent (lucite?) plastic container where you could leave the cover off and use the bottom as a tray. That was fine until it fell one day and cracked.

Then I got creative. My old Iomega Clik! drive (a laptop accessory) carrying case looked very professional with it's brushed aluminum-like exterior, and the size was right so I repurposed it as a mobile card holder. That was great until my wife decided she needed it more than I do ☺

As I just recently bought a new batch of business cards from Zazzle, I started looking for ideas for a new case and here are some of the cool ideas I found.

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1) Portable carrying cases

MacBook Pocket Mirror Business Card Holder

“This business holder is shaped like an Apple MacBook, comes in three different versions: a MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.”

Transparent Business Card Holder

“With New York fashion week just around the corner (and about a million opportunities to embarrass myself with grubby business cards), it’s clearly time to invest in a card holder. The last thing you want is that awkward situation where you have a card on you, but they’ve been sitting at the bottom of your handbag for a few months and, oh wait, also have melted chocolate on them. ”

Mod Podge Tin Business Card Holder

“This time tomorrow, I will be on the plane with my friend, Kelly, headed to SNAP! Remember those tins I found in my messy craft closet that I had bought from PYP? Well, I finally figured out something else to do with them!”

Wallpaper Covered Business Card Holder

“Well, back to my search…I couldn’t find any that I liked, not even one that I wasn’t willing to pay for or too much money. My search ended with Etsy with no such luck. There just isn’t much of a variety out there. So as my disappointment continued, I decided that I would make my own business card holder.”

Altoid Tin Business Card Holder

“I was struggling to think of an idea for displaying my business cards at the show this weekend. I didn't want to get one of the standard holders you can find at the store. I wanted something a little more creative, with a handmade touch. With a little embellishment, I was able to turn an old Altoids tin into a cute business card holder!”

Salaryman Watch: NES Controller Business Card Holder

“The NES Controller Type Card Case, to be exact, a ¥2,900 (US$31) anodized aluminum folder with a pair of compartments within — one for your cards, and one for those you receive. There are two designs, neither of which do more than the other. Each looks like an NES controller, but one has a fake mic and volume switch in addition to the fake D-Pad.”

Korean Souvenir Business Card

“This business card case was bought at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul.”

Moo Card Complementary Business Card Holder

“Along with my order, Moo included this complementary business card holder.”

Luxurious Argyle with an Anchor Model Business Card Holder

“After much thought and deliberation, and being made fun of by Leo and Rebecca, I’ve made the difficult decision to retire the old cassette case/business card holder. As you can see in the image provided, I opted for the luxurious argyle with an anchor model.”

Origami Business Card Holder

“An extremely simple and easy origami. Made of thin art paper, this business card holder can hold as much as 15 cards, or even more with a little adjustment. ”

A different style:

Howaboutorange Origami Business Card Holder

“Here's a quick and easy origami project: a business card case or gift card holder. Use patterned gift wrap (I like heavier-weight wrapping paper for a sturdier case), graph paper, a paper bag, magazine pages, or origami paper. Decorate the case with washi tape or stamps for a cute way to present gift cards.”

Sandy Mairart Felt Business Card Holder

“When we headed off on holiday recently I knew I needed a project to work on while we were en route, so I decided to dig through my stash of felted fabric and make one to hang onto.”

Rock Paper Feather Felt Business Card Holder

“After we finished our cards, I whipped up these little card holders out of scraps of felt so we would get them out and about with us right away.”

Oh My! Felt Business Card Holder

“Stop throwing them in the bottom of your purse (or is that just me?) and slip them into a fun handmade case. I am lightening up our ethics theme with this simple DIY project for a felt business card holder. ”

“Once upon a time, the music world created these things called cassette tapes. They held recorded music from bands with big hair. When a pretty girl from a really cool all natural me website gathered a lot of them, she decided to re-purpose them instead of sending them to the landfill. She decided to transform them into upcycled business card holders.”

The Purple Fig Fabric Business Card Holder

“I’ve wanted to make a business card holder for quite come time. My friend Trish is in the final stages of having her online magazine ” The Purple Fig” redesigned. It was the perfect opportunity to make one for her.”

DIY Fabric Scrap Business Card Holder

“I decided to make a business card holder before the class resumes because I know that I’ll be busy again tutoring my son. Business card holder is my second sewing project after I’ve made the pajama. I wanted to use the fabric scrap so it won’t put to waste. ”

Crafty Cupboard Fabric Business Card Holder

“With the Creative Estates coming up soon (as in, next weekend!), I thought I’d get on the ball and
have something to hold my “business” cards while I am there.”

“I decided to do this giveaway after spending sometime with my friend. Below is a short story (or a long one) of my friend who is a great mom that I like to share.”

Simply Clarke Personalized Business Card Holder

“The week before last, I received my new business cards in the mail. I was so excited to finally have them for my blog, but then I realized that I didn’t have anything to “put them in”. So, I went searching on Etsy and found Gisella’s Designs. She has such cute stuff!!”

2) Desk holders and display cases

3D Printed Electronic Business Card Holder

“My colleagues and I were looking for an idea for a gift to our boss and saw that he had business cards lying on his table without any order,” Sambrerra tells 3DPrint.com. “Thus was born the idea of making a box for the storage of these business cards.”

Glamorized Business Card Holder

“I use different color business card holders and jazz them up a bit. I usually like to use vintage jewelry pieces that are missing a pin back or some other part. I try to put pieces together that seem like they belong together then I glue them on the card holders. ”

Andy Avalar Business Card Holder

“After spending years in the computer repair business, mixed media artist Andy Avalar found a good use for all of the old computer and electronic components he collected by transforming them into unique business card holders. Each is a one-of-a-kind, upcycled piece of functional art. Designed to hold business cards horizontally or vertically, the pieces make a statement about your cards, and keep discarded electronics out of the landfill.”

Polymer Clay Business Card Holder

“I've collected quite a few business cards this past summer and like to keep them by my computer for when I have time to look people up. Instead of buying a boring business card holder from a big box store, I thought I'd use up some clay I had on hand to make a couple of pretty ones.”

Vintage Eyeglasses Business Card Holder

“Business card holder made from vintage glasses, spectacles, geekery”

Red Retro Couch Polymer Clay Business Card Holder

C3 Business Card Holder

“Here is a business card holder I designed for our department at work. His body opens up and holds more cards w/ a die cut window for our icon to show. His helmet is made from an overhead projector acetate sheet. ”

Wooden Toy Truck Business Card Holder

“Our Handmade Wooden Toy Truck Business Card Holder is made of solid wood. Measurements for our truck: Is 9″ inches in length, 4″ inches Wide, and is 3 1/2″ inches tall… The bed can come away from the cab. But the truck can not move. Is ment to stay put.”

Spoon Business Card Holder

Ferrigno Business Card Holder

Yellow Pages Business Card Holder

“This card holder design re-uses last year's YellowPages directory as its main material. The directory needs to be trimmed to the right diameter (approx. 394pages), rolled up and inserted into a metal tube. The size and exact use of the object is up to the maker, from photos to notes, business cards to envelopes. The product can be stored either vertically or horizontally. ”

Cardstock Business Card Holder

“I had seen this on SC and just had to do it. It is such a cute way to display your business cards. ”

Metal Wire Business Card Holder

“..as I was scrounging around for more springs, I came across a couple of rather large springs…they wouldn't do for vases…so what else could I concoct?”

Lego Brick Business Card Holder

“A custom LEGO business card holder I made for my Etsy shop”

Hot Rod Business Card Holder

“Custom hot rod business card holder made from repurposed engine and car parts.”